As I mentioned earlier this week, I plan to send an email about the current COVID-19 situation on our campuses...
Weekly COVID-19 Update: September 17
Team,
As I mentioned earlier this week, I plan to send an email about the current COVID-19 situation on our campuses and share any operational adjustments every Friday. My goal is to make sure all faculty and staff have the most up-to-date information to protect the safety and well-being of our campus. In addition to my weekly email, I encourage you to regularly visit the University's Roaring Back website, which contains near-daily updates. Some weeks things may change very little, or not at all, but I will send this email every Friday this semester as we deal with the current surge in cases.
SITUATIONAL UPDATE
Earlier this week, I told you that positive COVID-19 cases at our University were outpacing where we were one year ago. Idaho State’s weekly case count was updated yesterday morning, and our numbers continue to trend in the wrong direction––both on our campuses and in our communities. Also, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Crisis Standards of Care have been activated statewide. As the State’s lead health sciences university, we need to recognize that our hospitals and health care facilities, and most importantly their dedicated employees, are not able to sustain this increased and growing demand for care.
For the foreseeable future, a COVID-19 vaccination clinic will be in operation at the Pond Student Union. This clinic is in addition to vaccine locations at Bengal Pharmacy and our Pocatello screening site. We also ramped up our student-focused marketing efforts about the importance and availability of vaccinations. Please encourage everyone in our Bengal community to get vaccinated.
We implemented a mandatory face covering requirement at outdoor events of more than 150 individuals where physical distancing is not feasible. This requirement is in addition to the indoor mask requirement for all individuals and will be reviewed weekly.
Use of the self-report form and on-campus contact tracing have significantly increased. However, we are seeing members of our campus report exposure or positive cases and then not following the instructions from the University Health Committee. Contact tracing and following guidance for quarantine are important parts of our campus response.
This week, we asked all faculty and staff to prepare for the possibility of a future change in operational levels. Carefully review the operational levels posted online and work within your divisions and department to plan ahead for that possibility. Again, if changes are necessary, our expectation is that the measures will be temporary and reviewed as needed rather than being in place for the remainder of the semester.
Idaho State is currently at Level White on all campuses.
Thanks for your continued support of our students, educational mission, and the health of our campus community.
